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Philosophy 302: Plato and Aristotle Course Description This Course Philosophy 302: Plato and Aristotle Course Description This course surveys the essential content of the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle and considers more briefly some of the earlier thinkers whose ideas form the immediate context for their works. We will begin with dialogues in which Plato's is thought to give a reasonable accurate depiction of his mentor Socrates, and will focus on the ethical theses defended in these works and on the standards for knowledge presupposed by them. We will then observe how these theses and standards, in combination with certain ideas and problems from pre-Socratic thought, lead Plato to develop the first philosophical system: an integrated set of ideas about the fundamental nature of reality, man, knowledge, and value. We will then turn to Aristotle’s formulation of the principles of logic and the structure of science. Finally, we will study Aristotle's own philosophical system, with a focus on the ways in which it is similar to and different from Plato's. Instructor and Course Information Instructor: Gregory Salmieri ([email protected], 412-576-2990) Meetings: Friday 11:30am – 2:30pm, Murray Hall 115 Required Books Reeve (tr.), Plato: Republic, Hackett (ISBN-10: 0872207366, ISBN-13: 978-0872207363). [Amazon] [Barnes and Noble] Irwin and Fine (tr.), Aristotle: Selections (ISBN-10: 0915145677, ISBN-13: 978-0915145676). [Amazon] [Barnes and Noble] Adamson, Classical Philosophy, Oxford University Press (ISBN-10: 0199674531, ISBN-13: 978- 0199674534). [Amazon] [Barnes and Noble] Additional readings available online. Grading There will be ten quizzes over the course of the semester, administered through Sakai, which will be collectively worth 20% of the grade, two papers each worth 30% of the grade, and a final exam worth 20%. Extra credit will be awarded for excellent participation in class discussions. Tentative Schedule The following schedule is tentative, and students should not rely on it. Readings for each class session are associated with the calendar entry for the session, and may be updated over the course of the semester. The assignment due-dates listed here are also tentative, but no assignment will be due earlier than the date listed here. Date Topics Readings 9/5 Introduction to the Course Salmieri, A Budget Tour of Three strands in Greek thought Ancient Greek Philosophy Before prior to Socrates Socrates,A-B (pp. 1-5) Adamson, Classical Philosophy, chapters 1, 12, and 15 9/12 Socrates’ Project Plato, Apology Socrates view of knowledge Plato, Euthyphro Some Socratic ethical ideas Plato, Protagoras, 310b-319a Plato, Laches, 184d-192b Plato, Meno, 70a-77a Adamson, chapter 14 9/19 Socratic Ethics Plato, Meno, 77b-79e Plato, Gorgias, 466b-468e, 468e- 472c, 474b-475e, 507a-e, 508c- 509a Plato, Protagoras, 319b-320c, 329b-330b, 332a-334c, 349b- 362a Plato, Euthydemus, 278e-282d Plato, Philebus, 11b-d, 20b-23a Adamson, chapter 17 9/26 Three influences on Plato: Plato, Meno 80a-100c Heraclitus, Parmenides and the Budget Tour, C-E Pythagoreans Adamson, chapters 4-6, 18. The Theory of Recollection Virtue as a form of opinion 10/3 The Theory of Forms Plato, Phaedo The opposition between soul Plato, Cratylus, 439a-440a and body Aristotle, Metaphysics, I.6 The proof of the soul’s 987a30-b14 immortality Plato, Republic, V, 475c-480a Adamson, Chapter 20 10/10 The Republic’s project Reeve, summaries of Republic I-III The Tri-partite theory of the Plato, Republic II 357a-376c soul Plato, Republic III, 412b-417b The four virtues Plato, Republic IV, 419a-427c Reeve, summaries of Republic IV- X Plato, Republic IV, 427d-445e Plato, Republic IX, 580d-592b Plato, Phaedrus, 246a-249d Adamson, chapter 21 10/17 The epistemology of the Plato, Republic VI 504e-511e Republic Plato, Republic VII 511e-521b Review of Platonism Adamson, chapter 22 10/24 TBA TBA 10/31 Introduction to Aristotle Aristotle, Metaphysics A.1 Aristotle on Predication Aristotle, Topics I.5 Aristotelian Logic Aristotle, Prior Analytics I.1, 4. Adamson, chapters 29-30 Shields, “Aristotle” (in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy), sections 1 and 2. Smith, “Aristotle’s Logic” (in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy), sections 1 – 5 11/7 Aristotle on Science Aristotle, Posterior Analytics I.2-4, II.8-10, 19 Aristotle, Topics I.1 Adamson, chapter 31 Smith, “Aristotle’s Logic” (in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy), section 7-8 11/14 Aristotle on Substance Aristotle, Categories 1-5 Hylomorphism Aristotle, Physics I.7, II.1, 3, 8-9 The four causes Aristotle, Generation and Corruption I.4 Budget Tour, G Adamson, chapters 33-34 11/21 Aristotle on Nature (2/2) Aristotle, Metaphysics VII.1-3, 13, 17; VIII.1-3 Aristotle, De Anima II.1-3 Adamson, chapters 35 11/26 Aristotle’s Ethics Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics I.1- 5, 7, 13, II, IV.3, 5, VI.1-2, 4-5, 8, 12, VII.1-3 Adamson, chapter 37 12/5 Aristotle’s Ethics (continued) Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, X.6-8 Adamson, chapter 39 .
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